Why do pregnant women present late for their first antenatal care consultation in Cameroon?

摘要

BackgroundEarly initiation of antenatal care visits is an essential component of services to improving maternal and new born health. The Cameroonian Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2011 indicated that only 34% of pregnant women start antenatal care in the first trimester. However, detailed study to identify factors associated with late initiation of care has not been conducted in Cameroon. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of late booking first ANC visit amongst attendance of first ANC and the determinants of late first ANC in Douala general hospital.